Grading apparatus.



L. ANDERSON.

GRADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13. 1915.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917'.

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L. ANDERSON.

GRADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APK. I3. |915.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

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LYGURGUS ANDERSON, 0F LAKE CREEK,

GRADING APrnitArUs.

Leanser..

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Api', 3, 1917'.

Application inea April 13,1915. serial No. alpes.

To all whom t may concern:

Be itknown that I,v LroURGUs ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Creek, in the county of Delta and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grading Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in grading apparatus, and the primary object is to provide improved apparatus of this class which is comparativelyv simple and inexpensive in construction and which is capable of use in the grading, leveling, crowning and ditching of roads, the construction of ditches, the building of levees or embanlnnents, and for various other purposes, the construction and mode of operation of the apparatus being such that a minimum draftis required, it may be readily vadjusted as to width, and the scraper blade may be adjusted as to depth or according to the character of work to be done. p

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the speci-- ication.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a top plan view of a grader constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of one of the grader sections and the wagon or wheeled chain carrier;

Fig. 3- is a front elevation of one of the sections of the grader;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the outer side of one of the grader sections.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The present invention provides a grader or analogous apparatus which is capable of being used in the building, repair, or reconstruction of roads, the building of levees or embankments, the construction of ditches, and for various other grading purposes, its construction being such that it may be readily adjusted or converted to adapt it to a variety of uses. The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter described in detail, but it is to be `understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown, as equivalent constructions are contemplated, and that the apparatus maybe arranged in different ways, according to the character of work to be performed'. l

in the present instance, the grader` comprises a pair of sections A and B, these sections having scraping or leveling blades which, in the operation of the apparatus, are arranged at reverse inclinations, and the sections of the grader are so connected that the lateral thrust exerted on the respective grader sections tending to deflect or divert them sidewise is balanced or equalized, thereby reducing thc draft required in the operation of the apparatus to a minimum. Preferably, the grader sections A` and B are duplicates, with the exception that they are made right and left, that is to say, the scraper or leveling blades are located at the inner sides of the sections and are inclined at reversed angles. Asshown, each section of the grader comprises a frame composed of an inner beam l, an outer beam or rail 2, and a suitable number of cross-pieces 3 'which rigidly connect the beams l and 2,. The beaml is arranged at an angle to the beam 2, and these two beams are firmly connected tolone another' at their forward ends. A scraper or leveling blade t is arranged at the lower edge of the inclined beam l, this blade resembling in shape a plow share and its lower edge is comparatively sharp. In

orderv td facilitate resharpening of this blade, it is preferably secured or fastened detachably to the beam l. In the construe tion shown, clips 5 arevprovided for this purpose, the blade being bolted or otherwise detachably secured in position thereby.

Each lsection of the grader is provided with ground wheels which serve to support the respective grader' section with its blade above the yground level for transportation purposes, and these ground wheels also serve to gage the depth or the position of the scraper blade relatively to the ground, according' to the nature and character of the work to be performed. Preferably, a forward wheel 6 and a pair of rear wheels 7 and 8 are provided, and means is provided whereby the grader sections may be elevated depressed, either1 bodily or individually, with respect to these wheels. For example, as shown, these wheels are mounted on levers 9, lO. and 11, the levers being pivoted to the respective cross-members 3 of the grader llo `carrier when operating upon comparatively wide roads or levees where the center of the road or levee is considerably higher than 'the sides. As shownchains 14 and 15 may be attached to theY draft irons and provided with rings or hooks, or the links of the chains may serve as loops or eyes for a direct connection of the grader sections to one another or f or the connection of the grader sections to a wagon or wheeled carrier interposed between the grader sections. In Figs. 1 and 2,

a frame 16 is shown which may be secured' by bolts or rivets17 to the body of a wagon 18, the frame 16 being provided toward the front and back of the wagon with hooked bars 19 which extend transversely of the Y wagon and are adapted to be'attached to the chains lt or 15. Preferably, a number of these cross-bars 19 are provided at different l levels in order that the connection between the grader sections may be made in a manner most suitable to the work being done. rilhe blade may be applied to the grader sections in diiferentways. In the present instance, a draft kbar 20 is attached to each grader section to which a team may be hitched or power otherwise applied thereto, and the Wagoner wheeled carrier may be fitted With the usual draft devices 21 for the hitching of a team, the wagon or wheeled carrier proceeding with the grader sections, and this may be accomplishedby the `wagon driver controlling the teams hitched to the grader sections as Well as the team hitched to the wagon. Seats 22 are provided on the grader sections for attendants who may readily control the depth or theV position of the scraper blades to suit the work being performed.`

Inoperation, the sections of the grader are placed with their blades at their inner sides and in convergent relation, the outer rails 2 of the sections being substantially parallel wih .the direction of movement of 'the apparatus. On relatively wide roads or leveesV where the center is considerably higher than'the sides, the wagon or wheeled carrier is placed betweenthe sections and the latter are connected thereto by the chains 14 and 15, these chains being adjustably connected to the frame 16 of the wagon so that the sections of the grader will be spaced llaterally the'proper distance. The

outer wheels 6 and S are adjusted to position the forward portions of the blades of the respective sections at the proper height, and the inner rear wheels 7 are adjusted to raise the rear portions of the blades of the respecof the blades,l this earth or material is shifted'inwardly toward the center of the road, levee, oi' embankment until such earth or material reaches the rear ends of the blades, at which point it discharges from the blades. The reaction upon the convergent blades tends to separate or spread apart the sections of the grader, but this spreading tendency is balanced and sustained by reason of the transverse connections between the Sections of the spreader, the spreading tendency of one grader section balancing or equalizing that of the other grader section, and it is therefore unnecessary for either spreader section or the interposed wagon to sustain these lateral forces. In operating upon relatively narrow roads, the sections of the spreader may, as previously stated, be coupled directly to one another by the chains 14 and 15 and the draft members 12 and 13. Upon meeting a vehicle in the road, either of the sections of the grader may be temporarily uncoupled from the wagon or from the other section of the grader when the wagon is not used and brought into a position to avoid, obstructing the entire width of the road, and the apparatus may be similarly manipulated when it is necessary to cross a bridge or to traverse a narrow pasnot in action, the levers 9, 10 and 11 are' preferably shifted to bring the ground wheels 6, 7 and 8 into position to support thel entire section of the grader above or clear of the ground. In case it should be desired to construct a ditch across a field or in any other locality, the grader sections may be united by bringing the rails 2 of the sections adjacent to one another and suitably securing them in such relation, the blades then being arranged divergently to remove the earth and spread it at opposite sides of the apparatus as the latter is advanced, and in this case also, the lateral thrust exerted upon one blade will resist and equalize the lateral thrust exerted upon the other blade.

I claim as my invention z- 1. Grading apparatus comprising a pair of substantially triangular sections each having a scraper blade, means for independently supporting said sections to travel on a road surface, means for connecting the sections transversely adjacent to both their forward and rear ends and with the blades thereof in reversely inclined relation, said connection including a carrier supported to travel on the ground independently of said grader sections, and means for independently adjusting the elevation of the forward and rear portions of the blade of each section.

2. Grading lapparatus comprising a pair of substantially triangular sections each having a scraper blade, means for independently supporting the sections to travel on a road surface, means for exibly connecting the sections transversely with the blades sections converging toward their rear ends.'

4:. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of substantially triangular sections each having a scraping blade, means for independently supporting the sections to travel on a road surface, tension means for flexibly and adjustably connecting said sections transversely with their blades converging toward their rear ends, said connecting means including a carrier supported on the ground independently of the grader sections, and means for independently adjusting the elevation and the inclination both longitudinally and transversely of each section.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pair of grader-sections, each comprising a frame carrying a scraper blade, and ground wheels arranged toward the 'front and rear of the' frame and having means for individually adjusting the height of the front and rear portions of the frame relatively to said wheels, and a wheeled carrier independent of and arranged between said sections and having means for connecting said sections at opposite sides thereof.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pair of grader sections, each comprising a frame carrying a scraper blade, laterally spaced ground wheels having means coperative therewith for individually adjusting the height of either side of the frame relatively to said wheels, and a wheeled carrier independent of and arranged between said sections and having means for connecting said sections at opposite sides thereof.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pair of grader sections, each comprising a frame carrying a scraper' blade extending obliquely at one side thereof, ground wheels toward the rear and spaced laterally of the frame, and means for adjusting the height of the side of the frame carrying the blade, and a wheeled carrier independent of and arranged between said sections and having means for connecting said sections at opposite sides thereof.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of grader sections, each having a scraper blade, means for independently supporting the sections to' travel on a road surface, means for iexibly connecting the sections transversely with the blades thereof converging toward their rear ends, including means adapted to travel along the ground independently of the n grader sections, and inea-ns for adjusting the height and also the lateral inclination of the rear portions of the sections.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of grader sections, each having a scraper blade, means for independently supporting the sections to travel on a road surface, flexible tension, means for connecting the sections transversely with the blades thereof converging toward their rear ends, and a wheeled carrier for supporting said connecting means above the ground between said sections.

l0. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of grader sections, each having a scraper blade, means for independently supporting the sections to travel on a road surface, flexible tension means for connecting the sections transversely with the blades thereof converging toward their rear ends, and means supported on the ground independently of the grader sections for supporting said connecting means at different elevations abovethe ground between said sections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witl'leSSeS.

LYCURGUS ANDERSON. Witnesses J. L. DARWIN, C. E. ANDERSON.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente, Washington, D. G. 

